World View & Market Commentary. Forest first; Trees second. Focused on Real & Knowable facts that filter through the "experts" fluff and media hyperbole. Where we've been, what the future may hold and developing a better way forward.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

A ploy to force the government's hand??? Once again real people get caught in the middle of bad policy and greed...

Breaking news from Bloomberg:

Chrysler to Idle Entire Manufacturing Operation for 1 Month

By Mike Ramsey

Dec. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Chrysler LLC, the third-largest U.S. automaker, will close all 30 of its plants for at least a month at the end of shifts on Dec. 19 as it combats plummeting demand for vehicles.

The earliest the operations will come back on line is Jan. 19, the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based company said in a statement today.

Chrysler’s decision to suspend production comes after a 47 percent decline in U.S. sales in November. The automaker has asked for emergency bridge financing from the U.S. government to avoid collapse.

Two factories in Toledo, Ohio, that make the Jeep Liberty, Dodge Nitro and Jeep Wrangler will be closed until Jan. 26. The minivan plant in Windsor, Ontario and the Dodge Viper operations in Detroit will shut until Feb. 2, said Shawn Morgan, a Chrysler spokeswoman.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mike Ramsey in Southfield, Michigan, at mramsey6@bloomberg.net